12 January 2024 , 08:17
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Mary Earps could still leave Manchester United for a move to Arsenal, claims former England striker Jill Scott.
The future of United No.1 Earps has been under heavy speculation with the 30-year-old's current contract with the Red Devils set to expire in the summer. A protracted contract saga has left the door open for a rival club to swoop in for Earps in the summer.
And just six months after the Gunners' world-record bid for a women's goalkeeper was rejected by United, Earps has been tipped for a move to north London.
"I do think she might go to Arsenal," Scott, 36, told the Overlap.
The Euro 2022 champion added: "Transfers happen on performances and then the Arsenal manager will put in a bit of interest. There will be a lot of asking the girls at England, 'What's she like?'
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"But with players like Mary, a lot of it is out there anyway and with her personality."
Despite Scott's comments, Arsenal's interest in the Lioness had somewhat cooled despite the world-record bid lodged last year.
Earps can negotiate from a position of strength, and with no transfer fee to pay, she would likely command one of the largest salaries in the women's game following her remarkable rise in recent years.
In 2023, Earps was named Best FIFA Goalkeeper, the WSL Golden Glove winner, the World Cup Golden Glove winner and England Player of the Year. She also finished fifth in the Ballon d’Or voting.
Interested parties abroad such as Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and Real Madrid all remain admirers of Earps, with PSG in particular believed to be leading the race to procure her services.
Jill Scott has tipped former England teammate Mary Earps with a move to Arsenal in the summer (@Lionesses / Twitter)Earps, who picked up an MBE in the New Year's Honours List for services to football to round off an exceptional year of personal success, looks unlikely to sign a new deal with United.
On the world of transfer negotiations in the women's game, ex-Manchester City striker Scott said: "It's down to contracts. It happened to us at City. We reformed the team in 2014 with a three-year plan of trying to win the Treble. We did it.
"After those three years, I remember thinking 'We need to keep pushing because when you are successful that's when teams will come after you."
Scott added: "We took our foot off the gas. We had the best manager but we weren't signing the players because we didn't have the budget to offer players' contracts. Money is a big thing. If someone is offering double at another club, then they will probably go."
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